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The eight volumes of Metal Massacre released by Metal Blade Records in the 1980s were massively instrumental in chronicling (and furthering) the burgeoning heavy metal movement, particularly in the United States. Here, the earliest songs of Slayer and Ratt, for example, stood side by side each other as a declaration of intent: that HEAVY METAL was here, and it was here to stay. Those who grew up in the ’80s and heard these compilations have fond memories of them, as each song was almost always exclusive and almost always exciting – a new stone to unturn, a new head to bang.

For the members of OCTOBER 31, these compilations are so cherished and enduring that they’ve recorded a covers album comprising songs all exclusively on these comps, appropriately titled Metal Massacre. For over 20 years now, OCTOBER 31 are no strangers to the heavy metal fight, so it’s a no-brainer that the US quintet would reverentially cover the revered likes of Omen, Hallow’s Eve, Sacred Blade, and America’s Tyrant alongside the more obscure likes Aloha, War Cry, Final Warning, and Canada’s Death Dealer among others. From early, more melodically inclined traditional metal to heads-down proto-thrash and speed metal, OCTOBER 31 cover all bases on Metal Massacre, rendering the record a veritable time-machine back to the early-to-mid ’80s. However, with erstwhile DECEASED frontman (and scene legend) King Fowley on the mic, the band brims with the confidence and elan to make these songs their own – or, at least, songs that could easily be among their original repertoire – serving as a fully satisfying stopgap album before their next full-length for HELLS HEADBANGERS. All you metal merchants, step forth and prepare for OCTOBER 31’s Metal Massacre!

Rivers Of Nihil Interview with Jon Kunz

Interview by Lee Carter

Metal Blade Records new-boys Rivers Of Nihil have certainly announced their arrival in some style with their debut album “The Conscious Seed Of Light” – a devastating and cold cut of death metal centring on spring; the light and breezy quarter of a projected quadrilogy of albums based upon the seasons. True to the album’s seasonal sentiments, Rivers Of Nihil bring life anew to an at-times heavily-processed death metal world – there is both life and a live-feel to the album that begs to be heard. Since the guys will be full of the joys of spring after the successful launch of their debut, it seems as good a time as any to get a couple of questions into them…Read the rest of this entry »